Body, mind and positivity...

"When you are a bigger size woman like me,
people often like to say "Yeah, she has such a pretty face"
as if being fuller-figured is such a disgrace.

Hun, I'm cute in the face and thick in the waist...
I look good whether I'm in cotton, jeans or lace.

I am beautiful, vibrant and pretty smart,
but above all else, I treat people with respect and a kind heart.

There is a lot more to me than my weight,
so don't think a smaller frame gives you more pull.
I am a fabulous curvy woman
with a figure that's full!

Above all, I believe that my heart is bigger than my waist
and that's what matters most...
So let's lift each other up no matter what your size, just boast!

Each and every one of us has feelings
and we should never be prejudged
based on the size we are and what it means.
Beauty comes from the size of your heart,
not the size of your jeans!"

The following text is taken as an extract from a post edited and shared from verywellmind.com

When you aren't accepting of your body, it can lead to more negative emotions and could even contribute to the development of your mental health. The approach to being more accepting of your body—imperfections and all—is body positivity.

One survey found that 83% of women are dissatisfied with their physical appearance at one time or another, with this dissatisfaction occurring most often when looking in a mirror, in bathing attire, or when clothes shopping.

What Is Body Positivity...

Body positivity refers to having a positive view of your physical body, regardless of its shape, size, or other appearance-related attributes. It involves loving your body for what it is, even if it isn't "perfect".

An example of body positivity is to look in the mirror and say out loud all of the things you like about your physique. You might say, "I love the way my arms look in this shirt," or, "While my tummy isn't flat, it is still beautiful."

History of Body Positivity...

The push for greater acceptance of our physical bodies is nothing new. It started with the body positivity movement.

The Body Positivity Movement
The body positivity movement originated in the 1960s as a form of "anti-fatness activism." Its goal was to break the link existing between weight and personal worth, reinforcing that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and fair treatment regardless of body shape and size.

The body positivity movement sought changes within schools, places of employment, and advertising.
Despite its well-intentioned goals, the push for body positivity has faced some challenges. One is that it is focused solely on appearance. Another is that, while being positive about your body can help improve mental health, it cannot be ignored that carrying too much weight has negative impacts on physical health.

Benefits...

These benefits include:

• Body positivity can help boost mood while reducing negative thoughts. It also enables us to be happy with our bodies regardless.

We are ever-changing human beings, which means that some days we will love our bodies while on other days, self-love may feel like a bit too much to ask. By incorporating body positivity into our lives, we are able to select the approach most in line with our thinking on any given day.

How to Adopt Body Positivity...

When you get out of bed each morning, ask yourself which way of thinking aligns with how you feel. Based on your mindset, are you ready to love your physical appearance? Or do you feel like being positive is too much to ask at the moment, so you'd rather focus on being neutral and appreciating what your body can do?

If you'd like to focus on body positivity that day, you can do this by engaging in a few select actions:

• Find things you love about your physical appearance and say them out loud, such as "I love my long legs" or "My shoulders look great in this sleeveless shirt."
• Repeat positive affirmations throughout the day, like "I am happy the way I am."
• Stop your mind when it starts to make comparisons between your body and someone else's as there is no one "perfect" body type.
  

Text is taken as an extract from a post edited and shared from verywellmind.com